The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-24
ATTEMPT TO KILL o'eRIEN.
Eight Shots Fired at Him In the
Streets of Hamilton.
One Of His Companions Probably
Fatally Wounded.
The Police do not Arrest Any Of the
Mob.

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. May 23.-Mr.
O'Brien did not leave his bed until II o'clock,
and then he was so weak as to be almost un-
able to stand. He had to be assisted in
dressing by Dennis Kilbride. DIR. W. r.
Campbell told Mr.. O'Brien positively that
he was unfit to leave his bed, much less to
start on journey, but the latter was as firm
as a rock. II will CO." he said, "they expect
me, and have arranged to go, and cannot
dsappoint my friends" He left by the 1880
train for Hamilton, and arrived in Hamilton
at 3 p. m.
MONTREAL, May 23.-The arrangements
for the reception of Mr.. O'Brien as protest
against his treatment in Toronto and Kings
ton are about completed. The demonstra-
tion will take the form OF torchlght pro-
cession and monster mass meeting In
Chaboillez square.
HAMILTON, Ont, May 23.-The most en-
thusiastic reception 0'Brien has received in
Canada was given here today. When the
train arrived large number Of men and
women were waiting and 0'Brien was re-
ceiyed with loud cheers. Then there was
rush to shake hands.
"You're not in Kingston" shouted one
"No, nor in Toronto" cried another.
Finally 0'Brien's carriage and the process
sion TO the hotel started. There was long
line Of carriages. On both sides Of OBrien's
carriage marched long files of men, four deep,
shouting. At the hotel there was another
storm of cheers. In reply to. repeated
calls 0'Brien appeared on the balcony and
made speech.
In the evening meeting was held in the
Palace Rink, about half a mile from the h0-
tel. A large crowd gathered, only lew OF
whom whom were anti-0' Brienites, judging
by scattered kissing and gr0aning amid gem
eral outbursts of applause. The rink, which
Is capable of holding two thousand per-
sons, was filed. On the platform were
some Orangemen. Several Knights Of Labor,
were also present A deputation from
Toronto, including ID. P. Cahill, who was
seriously injured in the riot, together with
many Catholic clergymen. James OBrlen.
president of the National League, presided.
Mr.. 0'Brien. who was in much pain, spoke
briefly. He said unfortunately flesh and blood
were not proof against the arguments Of paw
ing stones and bludgeons, the only arguments
Lord Lansdowne's admirers have addressed
to US. His illusions to Lansd0wne and the
Kingston and Toronto affairs were received
with groanS and Kisses.
After Mr.. O'Brien sat down the chairman
read the following cablegram from London
signed by Justin Mccarthy, Thomas Sexton,
T. Nj. Healy, John Dillon and j. G. Biggar:
Accept the sympathy of your colleagues. We
feel the deepest indignation at the brnal conduct
OF the mobs at Kingston and Toronto. We earnest
~ request you 10 tdkc leSt uucr INC p0ot hculSdi
care.
Dennis Kilbride then spoke.
An attempt was made this evening to
assassinate Mr.. O'Brien as he left the rink.
After Kilbride had spoken, several English
men and one American made addresses.
Some of the illusions to Lansdowne were
very bitter. Before the audience was dis
missed, much against O'Brien's will he and
Kilbride were spirited off the platform and
through narrow alley to a carriage In wait
ing; They were accompanied by McMahon
and Rock, members OF the local branch OF
the Land League, while John Nelson held
the reins, and L. p. O'Brien sat on the box.
Hardly had the party entered the carriage
when an unfriendly group Of men spied
them and began kissing and groaning. just
building into Market square eight revolver
shots were fired. Nelson was shot in the
wrist, while one bullet whistled past
O'Brien's head and crashed through the cab
window Il. p. O'Brien seized the reins and
lashed the horses into run. AT the hotel
was another hostile crowd which hooted as
the party tried to open the door but could
not. Mcmahon then jumped over the
door and drawing revolver held
the crowd at bay while OBrien and
riage also by the same uncomfortable way.
AS the party stepped into the corridor Of the
hotel a yolley of rotten eggs was hurled at
them. No one was hit. Chief of Police Nc
k1nnon ana men now rushed up, but all was
over. Nelson was taken to the City Hos
pital. DIR. James White extracted the bullet.
He says the wound is dangerous. 1t is on
the left wrist. No arrests have been made.
Many express the opiniOn-0' Brien himself
among the number, and the Chief of Police.
too.-that the men who fired came from
Toronto. There is not the slightest evidence
in proof of this, There are rumors that
some Orangemen did reach here this evening
from Toronto. Many are of the opinion that
Hamilton will have to shoulder the blame.
rotten eggs certainly belonged here. There
is great excitement in the streets, fre-crack-
ers and powder being exploded in all direc-
tions and firearms discharged-a kind of
preliminary celebration Of the Queens birth
day.
O'Brien returns to Niagara Falls Tuesday,
where he will take a rest and proceed thence
to Montreal to attend an open air meeting on
Thursday.